Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-18


"But will not associate with him"
saidsDick, loftily.
The sergeant smiled, and then cast
hostile glance at the terrier, though the
innocent cause of the disturbance.
The worthy veteran then, after giving
Dick glass Of beer st the Bear Inn as
| they Iambled about, proceeded TO give
him deal Of sound advice, concerning
how he should comport himself among
such fellows as Gutters-"the fellows 81
the new system"-after he Joined the
regiment. otherwise he would find Life a
pandemonium on earth.
He also instructed him in all that ne
was to reply to TIE magistrate-the many
prelimlnaries, as to his name, age, height,
width of chest, birth place, parents, ana
SO forth; and that ne was to state MS
perfect willingness to serve in The RIVE.
LWO r giment for theterm OF six years
with the colors; to be followed ct the
end of that period, with similar term In
the Army Reserve on threepence per olem
| for the luxuries of life.
To all of this Dix listened with ideas
that were vague indeed; he coulo not
anticipate the future. To Soy OF MS
age, twelve years more seemed lifetime |;
! but his spirits rose again in the or1gnt
sunshine, and under the kindly influence
of the sergeant, whom he deemed pro-
| tector and hero, with his emma ana
Egyptian medals.
There was sure to be big war before
long-one of "the big wars that make
ambition virtue"-thought Dick, and if
he only fought like some Of the youthful
heroes of whom he had read so much
lately, the British government must, in
common gratitude, make MIN general
at least, and what would Uncle Grimshsw
think then.
OF this future, Dick felt juct then as
sure as ever Sancho did of his island.
In this mood he indicted at the Bear
his letter to Melanie, and gave it to the
sergeant to stamp and post for him; and
as the former was in no hurry TO do this,
because of subsequent events, long
time elapsed before she received 1t.
After the preliminary OF passing the
doctor, Dick found himself with the SER
geant under the piszzss Of the town hall,
where he RECALLED himself, for the first
time in his life, perhaps, with q cheap CT
gar, supplied to him by HawBsley, prior
to presenting themselves before the sit
ting magistrate, who, they were inform
ed, was very busy Just then with some
poaching cases, which had made his Wor-
ship very savage, as he WAS great game
preserver.
So Dick assumed an air of nonchalance
and sauntcred to and fro with the dog
close to his heels, smoking his new cigar
with doubtful pleasure, and from which
ere long, he began to feel unfortunate
effects.
The market place and all the houses
seemed to career after each other like the
wooden horses in a merry-go-round.
Dick felt most decidedly sick, though
ashamed TO say so; and head ache came
upon bim,a though his temples were split
open.
He threw away the fatal cigar; but did
so too late, and a wild clutch that he made
at Bingo rendered matters worse. The
mischief was done. He heard the voice
of the sergeant saying:
''Now is the time, young sir. Come
along"
And mechanically Dick followed him
followed him into spacious room with
lofty but plainly glazed windows, fur
nished with rows of seats on three sides
like pews in q church, with raised onls
or platform OF the fourth, in the center Of
which, under O gilded coat OF the Royal
Arms, sat solitary magistrate with an
air of grOtesque dignity, with couple OF
helmetted Constables near him and an old
and white haired clerk at a desk in front
"For what is this boy brought here?"
asked the magistrate.
"Attestation, sir" replied the SER
geant.
"LoOk up, boy." said the former, in
q voice which, if awful. sounded strange
ly familiar to Dick, who, to his conster-
nation and disgust-eVen amid his sick
ness and dire CoDfusion-fOund himself
face to face with Plsntagenet Pugwash,
ESQ, Justice of the peace for the county
of Oxford, swelling on his perch, in sll
the dignity of his vast stick-up collar,
scarlet tie and brown surtout, and in
short, surrounded by all the terrors of
country civil despotism-the last man in
the world before whom Dick talbot,
under all the circumstances, could wish
to find himself.
CHAPTER XLVIII.-DICK' 8 sCRAPE.
Now, Mr.. p. Pugwash was an English-
man OF not uncommon kind; and it
wss easier to appeal to his ignorant
preiudices and 20 his passions than to
his reason. Thus, after grim and TIL
umphant stare of recognition, he began,
as magistrate, his questions-per
printed form-but in bullying and ty-
rannical manner, sufficiently CALLING to
boy of spirit like Dick, who, however,
heard him as one in dream, and his
voice failed him, while the four corners
of the justice-room seemed to Pin quick
pursuit of each other.
Speak out, sir" Numbered old Pug
wash.
"The boy does not seem quite well,
SIR" suggested the sergeant.
"Tbe boys either intoxicated or shsm-
ming" snarled Mr. Pugwash, twitching
up his long shirt collar.
"ShammiDg-not bit Of it your wor-
ship; the poor boy is only sick"
"Don't dictate to me, sir l says IS
he is intoxicated. l did rot think-I do
not think that anyone but this hardened
young rascal would have the efrontery to
appear before me-betore me-in such q
state as he isl"
"rl bring him again tomorrow, sir
he'll be all right then, sir" said the
sergeant, kindly, "the lad isn't used to
smoking, CERTAINLY
"But he drinks-he has brother, a
shabby sailor feller, and we know that all
sailors, and soldiers too, drink"
$50 do many that consider themselves
better, yet amt worth powder and shot,"
said the soldier, Indignantly.
81 don't want your opinion, sergeant
silence, sir Vigorous measures Is neces-
sary here-I must windicate the laws OF